Cape York Ep 3: The Starke Track – a One-Day Trip That Took Two
The plan was simple: one day on the remote Starke Track to reach the coast at Ninian Bay. Two days, a lot of sand and one very close call with a caravan later, we made it.
About the Starke Track
The Starke Track starts about 80km north-west of Cooktown. It's remote and unmaintained, and Hema Maps notes it can take up to eight hours to cover its 150km section – before you factor in anything going wrong. Expect long stretches of ruts, soft sand and creek crossings.
What happened
- Deep bulldust and sandy ruts from early on, and the first recovery of the trip.
- Steep creek crossings and wheel lifts that tested every vehicle – and every trailer.
- The caravan nearly rolled. It ended up on its side and had to be carefully winched back onto its wheels (13:40 in the video).
- Running out of daylight with harder country ahead, so the crew made camp and finished the job on day two.
- Day two brought a coffee break in the wilderness, huge views from Cone Peak, the end of the track and finally Ninian Bay.
Lessons from the Starke
Double your time estimate
"One day" on a remote track assumes nothing goes wrong. Build in a spare day, and set a turnaround or camp-by time so you're not tackling tricky sections in the dark.
Towing changes everything
Ruts and wheel lifts that a 4WD handles easily can tip a trailer or caravan. Walk the tricky sections first, pick your line for the trailer as much as the tow vehicle, and don't be afraid to take it slowly.
Carry recovery gear – and know how to use it
The caravan only got back on its wheels because the crew had a winch and knew how to use it carefully. Pack rated straps, shackles, a damper and a shovel, and practise before you need them. If you're planning a winch, start with a bar built to carry one: the Ryebuck Scorpio bull bar carries the winch on Dan's Scorpio, and the genuine Pik Up steel bull bar is winch compatible. Our bull bar buying guide covers what to look for.
Suspension matters on tracks like this
Bar, winch, water, fuel and camping gear add up fast. Springs matched to the weight keep the vehicle level and give you clearance in deep ruts. See the Tough Dog lift kit for the Scorpio (with spring options for bar and winch) or the EFS 40mm lift for the Pik Up.
Next up
From Ninian Bay, the crew pushes on through Cape Melville towards Bathurst Bay – and the sand isn't finished with them yet.
From Workshop & Beyond – Cape York series: ← Ep 2: 2,200km to Cooktown | Ep 4: Bogged in Cape Melville → | Watch the series on YouTube
Building your Mahindra for remote tracks?
Bull bars, winch-ready setups and suspension matched to your load – talk to the people who build them.
Enquire about the bull bar → Scorpio lift kit → Talk to us →
